On this day: Mary Stuart becomes Queen of Scots at six days old

Mary Stuart was born in Linlithgow Palace, just west of Edinburgh, on 8 December 1542.

Her father, King James V of Scotland, died six days later – on 14 December – seemingly uninspired by news of a daughter. Among his last words were that the Stuart dynasty had started with a girl, and would end with a girl. (As it happens, he was wrong.)

At less than a week old, Mary found herself queen of a fractious kingdom, which relied on France for support against England. To seal the pact afresh, she was betrothed to the French dauphin.

Once regents had been installed to rule in her absence, she was sent away, at the age of five, to be raised at the French court. At 15, she was married in Notre-Dame, with the promise of a glittering life as queen of Scotland and queen consort of France. But tragedy struck again – her husband was dead in two years.